The service includes a customised photobiological safety test adapted to product type and specific need. Testing can be arranged for a wide range of light sources, from LED products to more complex lamp systems, using test arrangements suited to the product that must be documented before sale.
Lighting, optics and photonics
Accredited test of photobiological safety for light sources
Obtain accredited documentation of photobiological safety for light sources before sale and market launch.
Who is the service relevant to
Accredited testing of photobiological safety is relevant for manufacturers of products that use light sources, such as luminaires, lamps and projectors. The need arises when products must be documented as safe for human use, including assessment of visible light, IR and UV exposure to eyes and skin.
When safety documentation is required before sale
Without documented data on the light source and its risk level, it is difficult to demonstrate safe use prior to sale. The required documentation may range from an initial assessment to a fully accredited report, depending on product type and requirements.
Increasing need for documented assessment
Photobiological safety has become more important with the widespread use of LED in products and UV lighting in applications such as water treatment, air purification, disinfection and medical use. This increases the need for documented assessment of optical radiation.
Challenges
When products with light sources are prepared for sale, unclear risk documentation can delay classification and warning labelling.
Unclear documentation delays sale preparation
When the required level of documentation is unclear, it becomes difficult to determine whether an initial assessment is sufficient or whether a fully accredited report is needed before the product can be sold.
Blue light risk is easy to underestimate
Powerful light sources such as LED chips can create blue-light hazard, where photochemical effects may damage the retina. Without a proper assessment, this risk may not be documented clearly enough.
IR light can bypass natural eye response
IR light emits thermal energy and can cause eye damage during prolonged exposure. Because IR light is invisible, it does not trigger the eye’s normal visual response, which makes the risk harder to judge without testing.
UV exposure depends on dose and exposure time
UV radiation can harm both skin and eyes, and the permitted exposure depends on the strength of the radiation. The higher the emission, the shorter the acceptable exposure time, which makes documentation important for products using UV-A, UV-B or UV-C.
Benefits
Get documented results for classification, warning labelling and product documentation.
Support CE marking documentation
An accredited report provides third-party documentation that is important for CE marking. The documented result can also be relevant when EN 62471:2008 is used to meet the criteria of the EU’s CCA and ENEC schemes.
